CHAPTER 5

Jeremy goes straight to the brothel that has been open for about a year and is run by an old acquaintance of his, Billie or Busty as he always called her. He stops in front of the brothel and presses his lips together. He thinks of Candy, Harve, and the mussed up bed. Nodding his head he mumbles, "Let's do this."

Opening the door, he spies Billie talking to a group of fancy ladies. He walks over to Billie, grabs her by the wrist, and says sharply, "You and me! Now!"

He practically pulls her over to the staircase. "Where?"

"Upstairs. First door on the right," Billie answers with a big smile on her face.

They get to the room and Jeremy slams the door shut. "What has gotten into you, Jeremy? You and that prude wife of yours have a fight? Well, whatever happened, I'm glad you came to me. I can make you feel better." She tugs his shirt out of his pants, then helps him pull it over his head. He tosses it on the floor. He takes her in his arms and she throws her arms around his neck. They kiss. He smells her perfume. Busty, hmm Billie, smells nothing like Candy. They fall on the bed. He stops and looks at her. He brushes her hair from her face then gives her another kiss. Billie doesn't taste as good as Candy. He places his fingers on her cheek and rubs it gently. Billie is not as soft as Candy. He closes his eyes. When he feels Billie's hand rubbing over his chest and her lips kissing his neck, he takes her hand from his chest and pulls away from her. He jumps off the bed and grabs his shirt. Putting it on he says, "I'm sorry, hmm Billie. This is a mistake. I shouldn't have come here," he says with his shoulders slumped over and with tears in his eyes. His anger has given way to sadness.

"While I'm disappointed, I'm not surprised. I didn't think you had the balls to go through with it, but I was hoping. Little Miss High and Mighty must have really done a number on you to make you feel as bad as you look," Billie says.

"Don't say anything bad about my wife. I may be upset with her, but I still love her. I won't let anyone hurt her with their mean words. I've hurt her enough." He goes to the door and turns towards her. "No need for you to talk about this to anyone and get gossip going hoping Candy will hear about it. I plan to tell her myself as soon as I get home. I only hope she can forgive me."

X X X

Jeremy walks out of the brothel and wonders what he should do. Go home? Go in search of his brothers? All of a sudden, it hits him. He knows where he has to go before he can face his wife.

He goes to Stempel's Sawmill. He looks around until he finds Harve. He takes a deep breath before saying, "Harve, we need to talk."

"Yeah, about what?"

"Is there somewhere we can talk in private? I don't think you want the men to hear our discussion."

"Follow me." Harve leads him out back to a small clearing near the mill. "What's this about, Bolt?"

Jeremy wets his lips with his tongue. "I saw something earlier today that I need an explanation for. You're the one that can explain it to me. What were you doing at my house? What were you doing with my wife?"

Harve starts coughing. "How do you. . .where were you. . .look Jeremy, I think you have the wrong idea."

"Well, that's why I came to you. I want the truth, Harve. Are you and Candy sneaking around behind my back having an affair? Are you sleeping with my wife?" he asks, his anger starting to come back.

"Affair? With Candy? No way, Jeremy."

Jeremy clenches his fists. "Then why were you there alone with Candy and why was the bed all messed up. It looked like the two of you had been rolling around in it!"

"I swear it was not me and Candy. I don't want your wife."

"Why don't I believe you?" Jeremy asks as he grabs the front of Harve's shirt.

"Don't get me wrong, I think Candy is a beautiful woman and all, but I know she loves you. Always has. I gave up on her a long time ago."

"You lying to me, Harve?"

"No Jeremy, I'm not lying. If I tell you the truth, will you promise not to tell anyone?"

"I promise, but I might as well tell you right now that Candy says my promises don't amount to a hill of beans. But tell me anyways."

Harve sighs loudly. "Well, the truth is that I'm secretly married to a wonderful woman. Her name is Pam. She. . ."

"Pam? Candy has a friend named Pam," Jeremy responds as he lets go of Harve's shirt.

"That's right. Candy is a friend of Pam's. Pam's only friend. Anyways, Pam's Aunt Clara doesn't approve of me. Quite frankly, she doesn't approve of any man wanting to court Pam. She's afraid Pam will marry and leave her all alone. She pulled a shotgun on me and told me she better not see me hanging around her niece or she would shoot me. She's a mean old woman." He pauses.

"Go on!"

"Hmm, well, Pam and I was sneaking around seeing each other. We couldn't take it anymore, so we eloped. We're going to announce our marriage when we can be sure her Aunt Clara won't go crazy and shoot me like she said. But in the meantime, we wanted to be together as husband and wife. So, Pam asked Candy if we could meet at your house for a little alone time. Candy said she would have to talk to you about it. I want to thank you for allowing us to meet there."

"I didn't have anything to do with it, so don't thank me. So, you're saying you and Pam met at my house today and you two were the ones in the bed, is that right?" Jeremy asks.

"Yes, it was Pam and me."

Jeremy holds up his hand saying, "Wait. That can't be. I never saw Pam. I only saw you kissing Candy's hand as you were leaving."

"Pam left a few minutes before I did. I was thanking Candy for letting us meet there. I thought kissing her hand would be better than kissing her on the lips or cheek."

Jeremy thinks about this. Hmmm, did I see a woman on the road when I was going home? I could have. I was so busy practicing my speech, I didn't pay attention to what was going on. "And this is the whole truth?"

"It's the whole truth. I swear. I love Pam. We just wanted to spend a few hours together. You know how it is to be in love and want to be with your woman no matter what. You and Candy are like that, aren't you?"

Jeremy replies, "Yeah, I know. Candy and I. . .yeah, I know." He grins, then shakes his head. "I better go talk to Candy. I hope you and Pam get things worked out so you can live together happily." They shake hands. "See ya around."

"Yeah, see ya Jeremy."